Empire High Blood Lies ( fanfiction of the Empire High Series)

Guilded Cage

Valentina's POV

The taxi pulls up to the gate. I let the window down so the guard can see it's me. He looks at me with sympathy as he says, "Ms. Valentina, your father is waiting up for you." I feel my stomach clench at his words. I knew I would pay for last night, but not so soon. I nod my head, "Thank you." The car slowly drives through the now open gate. As we approach the house, I can't help but notice the beauty of the place I grew up. The grounds are beautiful and well maintained. I wish my father cared about me the real me, and not just as his property. I have everything any girl could wish for, designer clothes, jewellery, handbags, I have a closet just for shoes. But I would trade it all to have my own life. To my father, I'm just another property to be maintained. My only value, the connection my body can bring when he marries me off. I take a deep breath as I step from the cab and head up the steps to our front door. Lorenzo, my father's right hand, is waiting for me at the door. I thought I would have more time to prepare, at least shower... but the only time I've ever been in charge of my own life was last night with Felix. While there is nothing my father can say or do that will make me regret my night with a man of my choice on my terms, I can feel the panic building as I walk towards my reckoning. Lorenzo bows his head to me as he opens the door to my father's study. He's standing at the window, his back to me. Lorenzo closes the door with one last look of rare sympathy in my direction. It's so unexpected I almost turn and try to run. I know I have nowhere to go as my father turns to face me. "Take a seat, Valentina." I know my father wasn't born into this life. He built his empire through sheer ruthlessness, violence, and blood. It's not an exaggeration that my father is a hard man. Made harder by the fact my Mother was killed shortly after my birth. She was murdered by her own father for loving mine. Needless to say, my father destroyed them all and earned in blood the ruthless reputation he now has. While I have no memories of my own, I have been told stories of the great love between Xander Russo and Mariana Di Stefano. I know he became stone cold after he lost my mother. I'm told by my old Nanny that I could be my mother's twin, so maybe that's why he never really looks at me. What I can't make myself understand is my father married his great love. He went so far as to steal her out from under her father's nose, yet he is sentencing me to those arranged marriage from hell for the connection it beings him. My father looks me up and down with a sneer of disappointment on his face. "Would you like to explain where you've been, Valentina? And why you smell of sex and debauchery? Still dressed in the costume you wore to the Caldwell's party last night? Why I should not assume my daughter has defiled herself with someone, not her fiancé and how I am to keep Vincent from knowing?" He slams his fist down on the desk. I can't stop myself from jumping in my seat. I feel the tears welling in my eyes, but I'm determined he will not see them fall. Do you know how important connecting our family with the Ivanov's is? Especially with the uproar currently going on? Why would you decide to cheapen yourself in this way? My daughter a whore!" I begin to shake, but even as afraid as I am, I've had enough. "Father, you never see me! You loved my mother, yet you are sentencing me to marry someone who has no love for me! He is with different women every night, sometimes more than one. He has stated to my face that he has no intention of changing his behavior after our marriage. He is cruel! I wanted a choice! I wanted something for myself before you basically sacrificed me on the altar of your ambition! For once, I wanted to feel seen and desired for myself! Not for who my father is! Not for the connections I'll bring!" My father looks like he is going to explode. "Enough, Valentina! He roars as he raises his hand and slaps me across the face. I feel as if my cheekbone explodes. I can't keep myself from crying out, and the tears begin to fall against my will. Lorenzo immediately runs into the room. "Xander, you don't want her bruised for the wedding. I will take her and lock her in her room." My father takes another step towards me as Lorenzo grips my wrist and begins pulling me towards the door. "Get her out of my sight! Lorenzo she is to have no contact with anyone or go anywhere except for her old Nanny and to her final dress fitting. You will accompany her." Lorenzo closes the door as I hear him say, "I understand, sir." But my father must have hit me even harder than I thought because I swear I hear him whisper under his breath, "Someday Xander, you will pay for every sin." I look up at him, but his face is blank until he sees the bruise blooming on my cheek. "Valentina, I'm going to take you to your room now and send your old nanny up to you with an ice pack for your face. Please try to lay low for the next few days." I step into my room and hear the lock turn. My cheek is throbbing as my tears fall. I don't understand why my father hates me when he supposedly loved my mother so much! The story goes he saw her at a ball, back when he was a made man working for her father. It was love at first sight, and knowing her father would never allow him to have her, he kidnapped her that night. My mother was afraid of her father, but it didn't take her long to fall for Xander, and they were married in secret. They remained in hiding and I was born. Eventually, my mother's father found them and when they tried to get her back, she was killed in the crossfire. My father killed her entire family in revenge. My heart can't reconcile the fact he loved her so much, yet hates me, but no matter what pain lies in my future, I will always have my beautiful night of my choice. I left my heart in that hotel room with Felix, and as strange as it may sound, I know it's safe there.